We have made previous reference to the fact that the name
YODER traces back to St. Theodore, the first bishop of Octodorus
in the Martigny-Valais district of southern Switzerland.
Swiss scholars maintain that the name St. Theodulus
of mediaeval times, as well as the French Theodule, are but variants from the original Theodorus.
Dr. Eugen Gruber of Switzerland stated that in earlier
times the accent was on the third to last syllable and the interchange of l and
r was frequently made. This change in accent is the only linguistic shift in
the derivation of the name, according to Dr. John Howard Yoder, distinguished
theologian of Elkhart, Indiana, and he explained step by step how
the evolution from Theodorus to Joder
had become a matter of simple normal, effect in pronunciation. It may be a
surprise to those Yoders who thought their name came from a clan of yodellers in the Alps to discover that the fact is stranger
that the fiction, but the Swiss leave no doubt as to the derivation of the
name.

In the archives at Sion in Switzerland
can be found the doctoral dissertations of Dr. Gruber about the instituted
grants made in the name of the saints in the diocese of Sitten
in the Middle Ages. In one section is a scholarly
account of St. Theodore, who, he wrote, "stood at the head" of a line
of bishops in the Wallis country (Valais). He
probably meant in time but perhaps also in importance. St. Theodore came into
special prominence when he discovered the bodies of the martyrs of Theba and started the work of building a basilica in their honour. As time went on and legends were handed down,
especially by "one wandering monk", other St. Theodores
crept into the folklore--saints belonging to later times--who also were
supposed to have discovered the remains of the martyrs. In the liturgical
festivals they eventually had also taken on the person,and
character of the first saint to the point that esteem for them did not need to
be altered when the authentic St. Theodore was again discovered.

With many footnotes Dr. Gruber went into references to St.
Theodore found in various documents, especially records listing the donations
to his altars, the churches and chapels built to his honour,
and the brotherhoods established in his name. By the thirteenth century there
was more reference to his own remains, and by the fifteenth century emphasis centred more on the veneration of the saint himself. Not
only did the Theodore cult spread into neighbouring
dioceses, but the people of the Valais took it with
them when they migrated to other valleys. He was increasingly honoured in the French sectors, and chapels and churches
began to appear all along the Upper Rhone. The
inner Swiss took up the cult of St. Theodore for the most part after the
fifteenth century.

In later issues we hope to tell more stories about St. Joder and to describe some St. Joder
memorabilia. We wish here to mention only one item, one of several sent to us
by Karl Joder of Ludwigshafen,
West Germany, after receiving a copy of the YODER NEWSLETTER.

St. Theoduloder St.Joder

Martin Joder of Konolfingen, Switzerland sent information to
Karl Joder about the commemorative stamp depicting
St. Joder. 1981 was the l600th anniversary of St. Joder's appointment as bishop and he participated in the
Bishops' Synod of Aquileja in 381. Karl Generously
sent us a stamp, issued by Liechtenstein
and it was designed by Bruno Kaufman and Walter Wachter.
A copy of the stamp appears above.

Indeed we are happy to present Issue #2 of the YNL. You have
shown faith and support in this venture. In order that our subscription roster
might expand, could we ask each of you to get one more subscription? You could
tell a friend or relative--even give a gift subscription.

We're sorry to be unable to publish only a part of the
material received. We appreciate your sharing with us! We hope future issues
will afford space for all. Keep it coming.

We will still send a FREE copy of Issue #1 to anyone who
sends a self-addressed business size envelope (SASE) to YODER NEWSLETTER, P. O.
Box594,GoshenIN46526.

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A policy statement is in order to inform you that this
newsletter is strictly non-profit. The editors have and are willing to
"stick our necks out" to keep things rolling and so far things are
looking OK. We want to give you all your moneys worth. You can help by
continuing to subscribe. Also why not consider sending in a gift subscription
to a friend or relative? It would insure the continued success of this venture.

******************************************

As this goes to press we have 29O paid subscriptions to the
YNL. Non-Yoder names run at around 42% of our subscribers' list.

Many of you have expressed a willingness to contribute news,
history, etc. towards the contests of the YNL. Encouraging notes and letters
have also spurred us to greater effort. All these gestures of good-will are
well taken and thank you much!

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Whenever one writes to anyone asking for information or some
favor it should be remembered that such a request should be accompanied by a
self-addressed stamped envelope (SASE). People in a position to help others
find overburdening postage bills and some don't bother to answer unless a SASE
is enclosed. Others grit their teeth and do This is
just to inform those who never thought of this before. Just a
friendly reminder.

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The first request for a free copy of the YNL was from Lamar
and Lois Ann Mast. They are the editors of the MENNONITE FAMILY HISTORY, F. O Box 171, Elverson PA
19520. This is an excellent source of information to searchers of roots. They
also are subscribers of YNL.

Mrs. Esther E. Lamberson of ElkhartIN
was the first respondent to subscribe to YNL. Hats off to you, Esther!

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When sending in a query be sure and
give both husband and wife's names, date of birth, parents and grandparents'
names. Of course, it is not always possible to furnish all of the above facts,
but give as much as possible. Be sure and give your name and address.

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Subscription for YODER NEWSLETTER is $3.00 for Issues #2 and
#3 (Spring '84).

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An explanation of the logos used at the heading of this
newsletter. Since all of our origins were rooted in CantonBern, its
emblem on which the bear is embossed is used. To the right is depicted the Holy
Bible, lamp of learning, and the grain sheaf. These items represent that the
Word seemed to be the underlying foundation of the faith of our forbears which
produced many scholars, tradesmen and husbandmen which are necessary for the
foundation on which a lasting culture may be nurtured.

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Dear Fellow Subscribers:

Going over the questionnaires it shows many of you have
indicated a willingness to share genealogical information. We have discussed the
possibility of starting a repository for the many less-known Yoder lines. If we
could get as many individual family lines together, it is possible to form a
meaningful source of information for all who seek their ancestry.

A hearty "Thank You" to those who have already
made such contributions of their line!

The Editors.

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At this writing we're aware of the following family reunions
held this past summer. We hope readers will give full particulars of coming
reunions for 1984 so that we can inform everyone.

We will accept brief notices of 1984 YODER reunions. Send
name of "Whose", date, and place and it will be announced in Issue
#3.

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We've received enthusiastic response from the Conrad Yoder
descendants in North Carolina.
A lot of interesting material was submitted. Lack of space in this #2 issue for
background on this group makes us plan one for Issue #3 this coming spring.

*******************************************

The same goes for the Oley Yoders, Yost and Hannes, pioneers, from Palatinate,
Germany, whose father was
born in Steffisburg,
Switzerland.
Interesting reading will await you readers next spring.

========================================

????ANY YODER GENEALOGIES IN
PRINT??

There have been a number of Yoder genealogies printed over the
years and much Yoder data included in works on other families. Most of these
were assembled by folks for their immediate families and are now out of print.
We would like to publish reviews of new family works as they are produced, and
to identify genealogies still available. Please let us know of any you are
aware of.

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We must not forget women played a vital role in being proper
administrators and contributors in the struggles of all times in history. The following
anecdote is a good example of what a wise and brave woman did in the face of
danger during tumultuous times.

The full story was told, probably by one who we now would
call a news reporter and was graciously submitted by Karl Joder
of Ludwigsafen, Rep. of Germany. Karl is a descendant of
Yost and CasparJoder of Switzerland.
Since the text of the story was in German, Gregory F. Yoder, of Grand RapidsMI
kindly translated it for the YODER NEWSLETTER. It follows—

Anna Barbara Joder (she must have
been a very beautiful woman), daughter of Yost Joder
and Catherine Gerber Yoder, born August, l750, in Oggersheim,
Germany, owned the Hotel PfaltzerHof.

During the French Revolution (1792-1796) when
the revolutionaries destroyed and burned the entire Pfalz
(Palatinate).the French General Hoche came with his cavalry to Oggersheim
on January 4,1794, and wanted to have the best quarters.

Anna Barbara offered him her hotel as his headquarters (see
picture), and he accepted.

When the French soldiers plundered the small village of Oggersheim,
Anna Barbara demanded of the French General that the stolen goods be brought to
his headquarters.

Later, when the soldiers left, she then returned the stolen
goods to the villagers.

The Hotel-PfalzerHof still stands
today and is the best hotel in Oggersheim.

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Letters to the editor:

My mother was a Yoder and I was raised with my Yoder
grandparents on a farm immediately east of where the widow Barbara Yoder had
land in what is now Tilden Twp. (Berks Co.). I am a descendant of that branch.
As a youngster I spent much time in the old BishopHertzlerCemetery where some of my
Amish friends believe that widow Barbara is buried.

What was my Grandfather's farm, in the 1940's he subdivided
and sold for building lots. The streets are named after his children, and he
turned the barn into ,apartments. The small community is known as "YoderHeights"
and boasts a population of over two hundred people. My parents now live in the
old homestead in Yoder heights.

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Yes I'm interested in Yoder history, now since becoming
involved with Christopher. Found it to be an undertaking, especially at my age.
Not as easy as it was one day. Seems we need to be reminded to reach out to
Jesus since by his spirit he reaches out to both you and me.

-- Olen Yoder, Goshen, IN.

(Quite a testimony from a 90 some year old saint. Olen is
the GGGGgrandson of 1742 Immigrant Christian Jotter.)

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Near Meyersdale,
PA.(Somerset Co.) there is a town
known as "YetterStadt"
(Yoder town). It is Summit Hills" to the English
speaking people. I understand it was called "YetterStadt" because of the large number of Yoders
living in and around the area. -- Ray V. Haning, Springs, PA.

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After years of scrounging for so little information, I was a
little resigned. Your newsletter and personal letters were
an oasis in the long desert, a tremendous breakthrough to me. Excitement beyond
words!

--.H. Walter Yoder,Grand Rapids

(The above letter from a satisfied
customer" of the newsletter. From the
information he submitted, we were able to add 15 members to his family tree who
had been previously unknown to him. Thus, one of the purposes of this
newsletter is beginning to be fulfilled.-- Editors)

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My husband and l have made up a genealogy book of the David
Y. Yoder family in 1975, he (David) was our great grandfather and a descendant
of widow Barbara Yoder. I have the heating and cook
stove of David's--over 200 years old. Picture is in our book.

-Sadie Brenneman,Salisbury.PA.

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As my father was married four times John D. was the only
child from the first wife so father married the second time and had five
children and when father married my mother, his third wife, by now John D. was
a grown boy so he married my Mother's sister. Later three of John's boys
married my first wife's sisters which makes them
cousins, nephews, and brothers-in-law. My mother then died when I was three
years old and Father was 45 when he was a widower for the third time. Five
years later he married a widow with nine children and together they had a son.
So there are four sets of Yoders, two sets of Mullets in one family connection
as stepmother's first husband had four children when he married her. This is
one of the most mixed up families I know of.

-- Ben D. Yoder - Stuarts Draft, VA.

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I really enjoyed receiving the first Yoder Newsletter
recently. The information on the first page was especially important to us
because we plan to spend several weeks in Germany
and Switzerland
during the summer of 1984. Now we have a map and information that will help us
locate areas where our ancestors lived in Europe.

-- Marc Yoder, Cedar
Falls, IA

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Places Named Yoder Series

YODER,WYOMING

by David Luthy

(The following article, which originally appeared in the
July, 1973 issue of "Family Life", has been expanded and and updated by its author especially for the YODER
NEWSLETTER)

GoshenCounty is located
in the southeast corner of Wyoming
and has within it towns named "Lagrange" and "Yoder". 'Do
an Amish or Mennonite person this would appear very interesting, for
"Goshen" is a town in Indiana and the hub of a large Mennonite
settlement, "LaGrange" is the name of an adjoining Indiana county
which contains the third largest concentration of Amish in America, and
"Yoder" is the second most common Amish surname. Surely this Wyomingcounty would seem to have real Amish or Mennonite roots.

The origin of the name "GoshenCounty" does not, however, trace
back to Goshen,IN. It is
thought to have derived from an early trapper named "Goshe",
By 1846 the name "Goshe's
Hole" was applied to a rich irrigated farming area. By 1888 it appeared on
the map as Goshen
Hole. Since "Goshen" is a biblical name,
it would appear that someone changed "Goshe"
to "Goshen".
1

The town name "LaGrange" also does not originate
from Indiana.
It was named after an early homesteader, Caleb LaGrange.2

Last but not least is the town named "Yoder". It
does, indeed,have an Amish connection. It is about a
mile west of US Highway
85 and 12 miles west of the Nebraska
state line. Its beginning is closely linked with the Philip J. Yoder family.

Philip Yoder was born in 1836 at Shanesville, Ohio.
He was the son of Jacob D. and Barbara (Miller) Yoder, who are listed as
"Amish" in both the Christian Fisher genealogy (No.6651) and the
Barbara Hochstedler genealogy (No.4881). In 1861
Philip married Cinderella Hattery at Shanesville. The Barbara Hochstedler
genealogy lists them as "Mennonite" which they may have been when
married, but they did not remain so until death. Their first child, Benjamin,
was born at Shanesville in 1863. Shortly thereafter
they moved to Iowa where their second child,
Amanda, was born in 1865 at Swedesburg in HenryCounty.
Five more children were born in Iowa:
Jesse(1869), Oscar (?), Clara (1873), Ida May (1876), and Sadie (1882).

In the fall of 1881, Philip and his oldest son, Benjamin F.
or "Frank" as he was called, went to Wyoming. Frank spent the winter there, while
Philip returned to Iowa.
the following spring, Philip brought his family to Wyoming: three sons and
four daughters with a fifth daughter, Nina, being born there three years later.
3

The Philip Yoder family settled in GoshenCo. on a ranch along Bear Creek. Philip
prospered in raising cattle and horses. His Amish and Mennonite heritage was
discarded. In late 1905, after an absence of 42 years, Philip and his wife travelled back to their native Ohio to visit. Mrs. Yoder suddenly took ill
and died in the community where she had been born. Her obituary appeared in the
Amish-Mennonite newspaper, "The Budget", published at Sugarcreek, Ohio
in the Jan.11,1906 issue. Her remains were returned to Cheyenne, WY.
for internment. Four years later, Philip J. Yoder died
on July 28, 1910.

During Philip Yoder's lifetime, no town named
"Yoder" had existed. In 1921 the Union Pacific railroad laid track
from Gering, Nebraska
to South Torrington, Wyoming, the county seat of Goshen, Co. The
tracks passed several miles east of the Yoder ranch. Jesse
Yoder, Philip's son, organised a Goshen Townsite Development Company to build a new town beside the
railroad. The buildings from two tiny crossroad settlements, Springer
and Lacy Corners, were moved to the new town site. The name "Yoder"
was chosen in honor of the Yoder family which had lived in the area since 1881
and for Jesse Yoder who had headed the town site company. 4

Real estate offices, measuring a mere 4 by 6 feet, sprang up
almost overnight at Yoder. Grocery, hardware, and dry goods stores were soon
constructed; also a bakery and a cream station. In 1922 a brick schoolhouse was
built and a weekly newspaper was started. That same year, electricity came to
town, including even electric street lamps. A rodeo was held that summer to
celebrate the founding of the town.

In four years' time, Yoder, Wyoming grew from nothing to a
town of between 500 and 600 people There were three drugstores, two barber
shops, three hardware stores, two cream stations, a hotel, a bank, several
churches, a bakery, a doctor's office, a community hall, three lumber yards, a
telephone office, a rooming house, and a livery stable--not to mention the many
residences. 5

Yoder, Wyoming thrived for about ten years. Then came the Great Depression
of the 1930's. One after another of the business places closed and people moved
away. The population fell so that by 1970 the citizens numbered 101. Today it
is just a sleepy country town with a grade school and a modern post office
using ZIP Code 83244.

The Yoder ranch was still owned in 1973 by a Yoder--Philip's
grandson, Oscar T. Yoder who had purchased it in 1931. His name is familiar to GoshenCounty
residents for he served ten years in the Wyoming
legislature (1955-1965) six in the house and four in the senate.

We are grateful to the Hon. Oscar T Yoder of LaGrange, Wyoming
for the following updates to this article written August 7, 1983:

"My current information is that the population of Yoder
has stabilized and has gained some after a modest decline. A new water tower
has been constructed and a sewer system was installed some two years ago. The
town sign indicates a population of 110, elevation 4245."

"My father was Frank Yoder (B.F.) He passed away in
1943 at the age of 80. He led a very active life, ranching in an extensive way
in the Bear Creek, LaGrange, and Goshen
Hole areas. I live near Bear Creek west of LaGrange in the home that my
Grandfather built."

****************************************************

REVELATIONS FROM

BARBARA SHIRK'S WILL

By Rachel Kreider

Identifying
the early Amish Yoders in America
and relating them in families has for years been a very difficult exercise. The
repetition of names and the conflicting data from early times made the puzzle
almost impossible to solve. Descendants of Christian Yoder Der Schweisz were
good record-keepers, and when one day I impatiently asked, "Then why
didn't one of them write down who his father was and his uncles and
aunts?", the answer was "In those days all those who mattered to them
already knew."

As it turns out, someone had listed his siblings. On October
22, 1809, one Christian Yoder (Butcher Christ) wrote: "now I will write
down in what years my Father's brothers and sisters were (born)'':

Aunt Barbara Yoder Born in the year 1725

Aunt Mattie Yoder Born in the year 1726

Uncle Christian Yoder Born in the year 1728

Aunt Elizabeth Yoder Born in the year 1729

Uncle John Yoder Born in the year 1732

Father Yost Yoder Born in the year 1734

Aunt Franny Yoder Born in the year 1739

Uncle Jacob Yoder Born in the year 1740

Further along in the account, Jacob C. Yoder, his grandson,
who continued the genealogy and had descended from two different Yoder lines,
said that on his mother's side he was descended from Butcher Christian, son of
Yost, who was the son of Strong Jacob. That the above children belonged to
Strong Jacob was thus handed down in print from this source, an others, for
many years.

Research in the Lancaster
Courthouse, however, showed that there was something not right about this.
Strong Jacob did have the same names for his children but the dates did not
fit. He himself had to be of the same generation as those children. Surely
Butcher Christ knew who his grandfather was, but the information from his
grandson, who was that much further removed and had a mix of Yoder blood on
both sides of the house, was hardly that reliable. By 1970 Dr. Hugh Gingerich
of Washington, D. C., had turned sustained attention to the Yoder problems and familiarized
himself not only with the individual Yoders but the Amish families with whom
they intermarried. The task was not easy, for example, he found two John Yoders
both born about 1732 and each married to an Anna!

As it often happens, the key to the puzzle turned up
unexpectedly while in pursuit of other interests. Paul V. Hostetler of
Connecticut, grandson of the Hostetler historian who helped Harvey Hostetler
compile the Descendants of Jacob Hochstetler (the famous Hostetler book of
1912), was trying to clear up some problems in connection with his own roots.
He was referred to Annette Burget of the Pennsylvania German Society. She responded
with a long letter, which confirmed that most of us had been on the wrong track
also in identifying the immigrant Jacob Hochstetler. When in the course of
their correspondence she found out that Paul was also researching Hartzlers and
pinpointing the location of the earliest Amish farms, she sent him a copy of
the will of one Barbara Shirk, which had a reference in it to a Hertzler. He
promptly and generously shared it with Dr. Gingerich and received a telephone
call from the latter that first night. Barbara Yoder, the second wife of John
Shirk, had named her brothers and sisters, outlining for us one of the first
two Amish families in America!

Quoting from the beginning and the end of the will, we find:
"I, Barbara Shirk of CocalicoTownship, LancasterCounty, in the State of Pennsylvania have
hereunto set my hand and seal this seventh day of January in the year one
thousand seven hundred and ninety." She had made her mark (X) in the
presence of Martin Keller, John Keller, and John V. Dishony. In Item I she
nominated "my beloved brother-in-law John Hertzler and my nephew Jacob
Jother to be executors" The bequests were made "to my beloved
brothers and sisters viz, Christian Jother, his heirs, Jacob Jother, Michael
Jother, John Jother, my sister Magdalene her children, my sisters Anna King and
Veronica Hertzler.., Later in the will she repeated the names but after
"my sister Catherine Kauffman her children jointly one share" she
added "but their Father Isaac Kauffman shall have no part nor claim thereto...."

Coupled with information gleaned elsewhere, Dr. Gingerich
could now construct a list like this (approximating the dates within several
years):

The mother of these children, according to persistent
tradition, was the famous "Widow Barbara". To this day there has not
been found any satisfactory documentation for this, nor has it been disproved.
There are nine children in the family, but not eight of them sons, as one story
has it. We are inclined to believe that this is indeed the family of Widow
Barbara and that the father therefore died at sea. There has been speculation
about his name, some even published as fact, but more evidence is needed. From
a study of land transfers we believe that the father of the other family was
Christian. A Bible record gives a death date for him of November, l775, the
autumn before Christian Der Schweiz, now believed to be his son, came over the
Alleghenies to SomersetCounty.

Finding this will was indeed a break through. Dr. Gingerich
could now account for all the Amish Yoder males in the first three generations
and could make intelligent speculations on the unnamed marriage partners, but
there was still work to do. Were the heads of the two family’s brothers? Does
it signify anything that the oldest son in each family was named Christian?
What was the correct separation of children in the two John-Anna families? What
is the most promising connecting link with the Anabaptist Joders of that time
in Europe? Much progress has been made, but
the fascinating process of refining the Yoder family outlines goes on and on.
Perhaps we are looking for documentation that no longer even exists.

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YODER INQUIRIES

- The Yoder Newsletter will publish Yoder-related ancestral
inquiries or exchanges from readers. Please limit to around 30 words plus your
mailing address. It would be appreciated if a copy of any helpful replies could
be sent to this newsletter so we may help others with this data in the future.

900), son of John and Rebecca (Zimmerman)
Becker. They were members Salem (Belleman's) Luth.Ch.Centre Twp.
Reply: Mrs.SidneySalzman, 821 Glen Allen Dr., Baltimore, MD21229

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Wanted: Information on YoderCemetery
located North of Brotherton,SomersetCo.,PA. in the
midst of a strip mine near the Cambria Tipple, PBS Coal,Inc.
Known burial place of John Yoder (d.Oct.4,1860) and wife.Barbara
(d.Dec.1,1856),36 other stones. Is this burial place of "Schweitzer
Christian''Yoder and his son Bishop
Christian? Who else? Reply to Charles Yoder,227 S.Home Ave,
Apt.102, Avalon,Pa.15202.

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Wanted: Information on the first wife of Conrad
Yoder (North Carolina)
who was a"Cline". Also

any
information on Conrad's other wife and c hildren, as
many married Clines or their descendants. Reply: Pauline Reinhardt, 503 St.JamesCh.Dalton,
N.C.28658

Seeking info.on William Henry Yotter, called "Henry". Married
Matilda Metzger (1837-1911). He died before 1900. They lived in Freemansburg, Northampton Co.,PA
where he owned canal boats running on the LehighCanal.
Reply: Richard Yotter, 521 E.Newport Rd.Lititz,PA. 17543.

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Who were the ancestors of Anna Yoder born about 1728,
married to Samuel Koenig(King), born 1724, died 1783 and immigrant with father
Jacob. Anna and Samuel had son Jacob King who married Barbara Zug (Zook). Respond to: MabelBrunk,241'7 Jefferson Park
Ave., Charlottesville, VA22903

********************************

Who were the ancestors of Jacob Eschboch
Yoder? Born l838, lived near Pottstown,
PA, Mennonite, Several brothers,
all their names began with "J". Went to LynchburgVA
as missionary to freed slaves.m. Anna
Whitaker. Reply to:Joan Yoder, 130 Renola Dr.,
High PointNC27263.

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Descendants of Bishop Christian C. Yoder (1790-1846),
Somerset Co. PA1!! His homestead graveyard has fallen into oblivion and is
being plowed over. If you are interested in restoring this site, several other
descendants could use your help. Contacts Chris Yoder, 203 Lakeshire Road,
Battle CreekMI49015.

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BOOK SECTION: This newsletter will identify Yoder-related
books currently available for purchase. If you know ofany such books of interest to other readers,
please advise the editors:

Descendants of David Y. Yoder, by Eli Brenneman.Traces the descendants of David Y. Yoder (1820-1899) of Somerset Co.,PA. David was a son of Yost H.,a
son of Henry Y., a son of another Yost Yoder (all members of the Amish Yoder
line). Sadie Brenneman, widow of Eli, says she has
quite a few copies of this 218 page book left and would be glad to sell some $5
post paid . Order from: Sadie Brenneman, Rt. 1 ,Box 304, Salisbury, PA.
15558.

Descendants of Jacob Hochstetler, by Harvey
Hostetler. This reprint of the
1912 classic is not specifically a Yoder book. It does, however include data on
many of the primarily Amish Yoder lines. Its availability will be welcomed by
quite a few of our readers. This 1200 page volume may be ordered from: the
Gospel Bookstore Box 320,
Berlin, OH.
44610 for$19.95 plus $1.50 for
shipping.

The Reuben Yoder Family and Its Ancestry, by Chris
Yoder,1983. Reuben Yoder was the son and grandson of two generations of Amish
Bishops of Somerset Co.,Pa.
both named Christian Yoder. This 156 page soft-bound book contains a descendant
directory, 26 photographs. of family members and homesteads, ancestral
information and an Appendix containing many documents written by Reuben and his
ancestor- Price .$6 plus 75 cents postage, from Chris Yoder,203 Lakeshore
Rd.,Battle Creek, MI 49015

Family Record of Eli Yoder,1973,by Dale E.Yoder. Eli Yoder was
born 4/1/1853 near Salisbury, PA the son of Yost Yoder and Elizabeth
Hochstetler.This 23 page booklet may be had from the author for $1. Limited
number are available, and the author warns that there are a number of errors
and unintentional omissions. Order from: Dale E. Yoder, RR, Kalona, Ia.

JUST OFF THE PRESS-Familv Record of John T Yoder and
AnnaBontrager 1840-1983- .
Hardback472 p. $8.50 +86¢ postage. Order from Katie Borkholder
30580 CR56, Nappanee IN 46550.

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EUROPEAN YODER RESEARCH- by Lois Ann Mast

(This article has been reprinted with permission from the
April 1981 issue of "The Pennsylvania Mennonite Heritage", the
quarterly magazine of the Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society, 2215 Millstream
Rd., Lancaster, PA 17602.)

Karl Joder, a researcher from Ludwigshafen/Rhein, Germany,
has researched the European Joder families formany years. The following article is based on hismany notes, brochures, and charts.

The surname of Yoder is derived from the Alemannic given
name "Theodor," derived from a Greek word
meaning "man of God." The first known bishop in Switzerland was
Saint Theodorus, who died about 393 A.D. His name was
later changed to Saint Joder in theGerman-speaking sections of Switzerland, where it continues to
be prevalent today.

Already in the fourth and fifth centuries, the Joders areknown to
have settled on the right shore of the EmmeRiver
on what is still known today as "JoderHubel"or
"Joder Hill" (elevation 9,870 feet). This
hill wasdeveloped into a walled
stronghold to protect Joder clansthroughout the years.

On a 1384 tax registerfor the small village
of Huttwil,UlliJoder and his son, HeiniJoder, are recorded as the highest taxed families. According
to various German knights' records, ElsiZaugg, daughter of Blacksmith Peter Zaugg
of Sumiswald, gave a large tract from her estate to
the German knights. Because of an unusually hard plague that probably caused
the death of several of Ulli's and Elsi's children, tradition states that this gift of land
may have been a token of gratitude for sparing one of her children.

Ulli's and Elsi's only known son, HeiniJoder, moved Wabout 1385 to Steffisburg,
Switzerland, in the southern part of the Emmental. The
Joders lived here for approximately eleven
generations before the Joders who joined the Wiedertaufer, or Anabaptist, movement were forced to leave
their homeland in search of religiousfreedom.

The SteffisburgJoders, primarily farmers, were also involved in a variety
of trades and service in civil

administration
offices. In 1428 a JostJoder
served as govemor at Laueren
near Thun. Accounts of Joders
involved in the Anabaptist movement include HeiniJoder teacher and preacher, who was arrested and imprisoned
in Basel in
1531. Karl Joder's research also reveals a number of Joder families who migrated to the Alsace
or to the Pfalz and later to America.

Karl Joder traces his ancestry to UlliJoder, born about 1340 in Huttwil, Switzaland, and married
to Elsi

Zaugg/Zook. Although
no connection has yet been made to identify where Immigrant "Widow"
Barbara Yoder fitsinto the family, we
can assume at this time that Ulli and Elsi (Zaugg) Joder
could be her husband's ancestors.

Ulli and Elsi (Zaugg)
Joders son HeiniJoder, married Leni Gerber. Karl Joder traces their two sons, Peter and Jost,
through a number of generations that intermarried with Blanks, Esches, Gingerichs, Kauffmans, Meyers, Millers, Rupps,
and Zooks, many of whom came to America. The
following is a listing of nine Yoder generations traced through European church
records.

------The families of Jost and NicolausJoder of Steffisburg are certainly not the only ones from whom
American Yoders may be descended. There are, however, reasons to pay particular
attention to these families when attempting to sort out the European origins of
various Yoder lines. Some of these are outlined below:

1. Research by Karl Joder and Dr.
Don Yoder has identified Hans and JostJoder (para 10d (1) & (4)) as
being the founders of the OleyValley Yoder branch and the first of the name in America.

------2. Karl Joder has
established that 1820 Amish immigrant tWichael Yoder
was the grandson of Jacob Joder, son of Hans Joder and Catherine Esch (para 9i (3)).

4. Two children of NicolausJoder have known or suspected Anabaptist links: Jost (para 10h) was a suspected
Anabaptist in 1690; Salomea (para
10i) and her husband Hans Gerber were labeled
Anabaptists in 1691.

5. The Staadtsarchivs of Bern show a record of
7/16/1690 "the government orders the provincial governor of Traschselwald to find out whether the AnnabaptistsJostJoder and Christian
Blank of Steffisburg, as have been reported, are
staying in Schangnau and whether they took their
capital with them. As soon as this is ascertained, a report shall be given to
the Tauferkammer there." Were these 10h and 9f?
It seems likely.

6. The Staadtsarchivs of Bern show in a record
dated 4/8/1695 "The Anabaptist Christian Joder,
of the jurisdiction of Steffisburg, has left the
country. For the property he took along he must pay a 5%o fee of 10
lbs(?)." Was this 9h? Possible.

7. Erlenbach, reported home of
Amish founder Jacob Amman, is only about ten miles distance from Steffisburg. WhenAmman made his tour of
1693 to seek support for his theological ideas, one of the ministers
accompanying him was a "Christian Blank". Can anyone of our readers
shed light on whether this was the same man as at para
9h?

8. One Hans Gerber was known to have been with Amman at Heidelsheim in Alsace in 1711. Could this have been the same as the man at para
10i?

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COMING IN ISSUE #3.!!New material from Ken Hottle, Allentown PA, on
Hans Joder of Upper Bucks Co., PA (GreatSwamp).
Dorothy Coffman, of Malvern PA has found new material on the
Montgomery Co. Yoders.

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(clipping sent Mrs. NettiePoteat of Hickory,

North Carolina, printed in the DAILY RECORD.)

------

The 33rd annual Yoder family reunion was held Sunday(13th of
August) at ZionLutheranChurch.

------The North Carolina
Yoders are descended from Germanic-Swiss pioneer Conrad Yoder, who came to CatawbaCounty around 1750. His grave is just
south of ZionChurch, which his children helped start
in the 1790's.

President Jimmy Yoder opened the meeting. Richard Yoder presented
memorial roses to the familif of seven clan members
who died during the last year, and reported on the Yoder Newsletter, a new
national family publication.

He and Dr. Larry Yoder of Lenoir-RhyneCollege reported that the memorial to
Dr. Robert Andersor Yoder, first president of the
college, is nearing completion on the site of the razed Yoder Build- _ ing on campus.

They urged all family members and friends to designate any
gifts to the college for the memorial since the clan earlier agreed to support
the memorial.

Next year's reunion will be at ZionChurch
on

the
second Sunday in August.------

***************************************************

The 1000 page volume which traces over 140 Amish surnames
from immigration to an arbitrary date of 1850 is nearing publication. Dr. Hugh F. Gingerich, PhD, of WashingtonDC and Rachel W. Kreider, MA.ofGoshenIN have compiled data that
represents 30 years of diligent research.

------The Yoder section will cover the most pages, with
Millers a close second. This covers only the Amish Yoders mentioned in Section
3 of the first issue of the YNL which shows the maps.

------The prepublication price is $35.00, plus handling and
shipping for individual orders. You may order from Levi L. Stoltzfus,
Treas.,

98 South Graffdale Road,
Leola PA 17540.

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Who was the brother of Conrad Yoder, early pioneer founder
of the North Carolina clan, who was supposed to have gone west in the early
1700's? Anyone who can give a clue on this please contact the YODER NEWSLETTER,
P.O. Box 594, Goshen, IN46526